.
GCSEs and other qualification hurdles are a bad time for any teenager, so much worse for autistic spectrum.
So much hangs on exams, especially nowadays, where half of teenagers are expected to go to university to get a job. The options to go about things more slowly don't appear to be there.
The problem is sensory overload and the bottleneck effect - you can only take so much in, and usually this threshold is much lower than for non-autistic individuals.
What happens is that his head reaches saturation point where he cannot take any more in.
Also his learning processes may be unconventional. Memory tends to be better developed, and cramming therefore tends to dominate, rather than understanding processes. Cramming is something people on the spectrum can do, but the limits are reached fairly early. They may find it harder to concentrate on learning processes - sequences of actions, tasks, calculations.
It may be better to take short breaks regularly rather than long shifts and long breaks. Also any competing tensions should be allevated - what else is worrying him? Obviously consequences of failure may be uppermost. Are you, I wonder constantly reminding him of how important are these exams? It would be easier if parents accepted that with autistic spectrum it might actually be more productive to take the qualifications ladder a little more slowly.
Also I was horrified by the "don't blame it on your condition" remark. So what else is to blame for goodness sake? Or is he being told its his fault he has difficulties? Please get your head round this. Autism makes life very much harder - lots of things in life very much harder.
Dr3am3r,
I wonder. Could hubby pull back a bit with regard to the comments. Your son sounds as though he's a pressure cooker just now. I'm not suggesting he spends all his time on computer games, but a little down time is often enough to take the edge off when people feel stressed. Their will be plenty of time for chores etc when the exams are over; to get things done that he's forgotton. Last thing he needs is to feel he's failing in yet another area.
I may have misjudged what you've just written; and if so forgive me, but smashing up his computer will hardly be productive for exam study, and although his anger was directed away from you he's clearly at capacity.
Mentioning an individuals condition may not be helpful and may even reinforce any negative feelings he has about himself just now. He needs to know that it's ok to be him.
Hope you have a restful weekend
Coogy
We use an inflatable swiss ball when our grandson is overly anxious. He will happily submit to laying on the floor and we roll it up his body over and over. You can see him physically relax. He gets the pressure he craves without us physically touching him. If we are out I use a cushion instead and just press it over his body. He also likes a wire head massager particularly when he has come home from school upset.
There is a free mindfulness site here where you can download MP3s
http://www.freemindfulness.org
Was recommended by a psychologist for my anxiety
Your poor son sounds like he is under a hideous amount of stress which would be enough to push anyone into smashing a few inanimate objects. I can understand the feeling trapped by schoolwork thing - maybe a short break would help? A weekend away with no homework, no mention of exams, just a bit of rest and relaxation to take the pressure off?
Try Mindfullness. It's the only thing i've found affective. I'm using it with my son at the moment to try and ease his ISB, which seems to be agrivated by school related anxiety.
You can get Mindfulness tapes (showing my age) I mean CD's, MP3 downloads etc, to practice in the privacy of your own home, rather than a class. Ideal for Aspies who have issues with too many people in one room. It has also been taken up as a treatment course by several health trusts, because it seems to impact the reduction of the need for prescription medication and the costs invloved for the treatment far out-way the cost of the drugs. See if your local trust operates a couse in your area.
Although i started it years ago, I saw a video where Sarah Hendrickx mentioned it resently, so I gather it's picking up popularity in the Aspie community.
Coogybear X
